Venus is Back as is Defending Miami Champion and World No. 1 Sabalenka

By Harvey Fialkov / Staff writer

MIAMI GARDENS – Tennis great Venus Williams’ favorite book is, “I Am Number Four” and the three-time Miami Open champion would certainly like to make it four over this fortnight at Hard Rock Stadium.

At 45, Williams is by far the oldest player in either the men or women’s draw, and of course the long-time Palm Beach resident was granted a wild card into her record 20^th Miami Open.

The women’s draw came out Sunday and Williams’ first-round opponent is 93^rdranked Francesca Jones of Great Britain, who at 25, wasn’t born when Williams won her first two Miami titles in 1998 and ’99.

Unfortunately, Williams, a seven-time major champion and former No. 1, is 0-4 in her four tour-level matches this year. Her last W came last July in the first round of the WTA 500 Citi DC Open over young American Peyton Stearns.

If Williams gets past Jones, her next opponent would be American Jessica Pegula, last year’s finalist, who’s seeded fifth. The two have never faced each other.

Of course, the top seed of the draw is defending Miami champion Aryna Sabalenka, who on Sunday collected her 23^rd career title but first at Indian Wells where she had been a two-time finalist in 2023 and ’25. It was the Belarusian’s first tournament with a new puppy and newly engaged fiancée, Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis.

“I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” Sabalenka told Tennis Channel.

Sabalenka, a Miami resident, said she would fly home Sunday night. “Probably have a few drinks on the plane and that’s it,’’ she said of her short-lived celebration plans. “I’m defending champion there, so I have to bring my best tennis. With these vibes I’m taking from here, I think I will be able to be there and fight to do my very best to defend that beautiful trophy.”

In a rematch of the Australian Open final this year, this time Sabalenka got the better of Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in three sets, in which she fought off one match point with a warp-speed, return-of-serve backhand winner.

Although Rybakina will move to a career-high No. 2 ranking on Monday, she will be seeded third in Miami, behind former No. 2 Iga Swiatek. Perhaps, Sabalenka’s earliest test could come in the fourth round against China’s Qinwen Zheng, who was ranked No. 4 in June 2025 but is now No. 23 following elbow surgery last July.

Zheng, a gold medalist in singles in the 2024 Paris Olympics, would have to get past either Sloane Stephens, the 2018 Miami champion and 2017 US Open champion or fellow American Jen Brady. Stephens, 32, was ranked No. 3 in 2016 but has dropped to 780 since winning her eighth title at Rouen, France in 2024. Brady was ranked 13^th in February 2021 but has plummeted after missing two years with foot injuries. Both received wild cards.

A potential second-round popcorn match could pair up former No. 2 Paula Badosa of Spain versus American teen Iva Jovic of Torrance, Calif., who is ranked her age at No. 18. Badosa, now No. 106, has been plagued by back issues which forced her to retire before her third-round match here last year, thus allowing then teen Alexandra Eala to continue her breakthrough run to the semifinals which included wins over No. 5 Madison Keys and No. 2 Iga Swiatek.

Eala, who entered as a wild card ranked No. 140, became the first Filipino to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal and the first to enter the Top 100 ranking. She rose to No 72 after Miami and is now No. 31.

At 17, Jovic won her first title at a WTA 500 in Guadalajara, Mexico last year. Eala, 20, could meet Swiatek, a six-time major champion and 2022 Miami champion, in the third round.

Whoever wins the Badosa-Jovic potential match, could then possibly face 16^th seed Naomi Osaka of Japan, a four-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1, in the third round.

Hometown favorite Coco Gauff, who’s seeded fourth, has a seemingly comfortable draw until at least the fourth round where powerful Greek Maria Sakkari could be waiting. Gauff, 22, from nearby Delray Beach, has never gotten past the fourth round in her six Miami appearances. However, Gauff, a two-time Slam champ, won the doubles here in 2023 with Pegula of Boca Raton as her partner.

***

About the Miami Open presented by Itaú

The 2026 Miami Open presented by Itaú will be played March 15 – March 29 at Hard Rock Stadium. The 15-day event is owned and operated by MARI and Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a WTA 1000 event on the WTA calendar, and annually hosts the world’s best players, with recent champions including the top players in each tour’s rankings – Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. In 2025, the tournament attracted more than 400,000 spectators over its 15 days at Hard Rock Stadium. Widely regarded as the most glamorous stop on the ATP and WTA calendars, the Miami Open is defined by the city’s vibrant culture, nightlife, five-star dining and hospitality, iconic beaches, and celebrity appeal, along with its close proximity to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

About Itaú Unibanco

The largest bank in Latin America, Itaú Unibanco operates in 18 countries and serves more than 70 million customers, including individuals and companies across a wide range of segments. With the purpose of strengthening financial well-being, the bank supports customers at different stages of life by offering solutions tailored to their needs, as well as innovation and information that encourage more conscious decision-making and a healthier relationship with money.

In sports, Itaú has maintained a consistent presence in tennis for 50 years, supporting the development of the sport in Brazil and worldwide across multiple fronts — from talent development to the sponsorship of major international events — as part of its strategy to strengthen customer relationships, build brand relevance, and broaden access to sport.

About MARI 

MARI is a global events and experiences company with a portfolio of some of the world’s most influential live properties across sport, art, lifestyle, and entertainment. From international tennis tournaments such as the Mutua Madrid Open and the Miami Open presented by Itaú to Frieze, a leading voice in contemporary art, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, TodayTix Group’s leadership in digital ticketing, and Barrett-Jackson’s leading collector car auctions, MARI’s portfolio reflects a shared ambition: to deliver live experiences that bring people together, inspire audiences and shape culture worldwide.

About Hard Rock Stadium

Hard Rock Stadium is a global entertainment destination and curator of world-class events. The best-in-class venue is home to the Miami Dolphins, University of Miami Hurricanes football team, the Capital One Orange Bowl, Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, Miami Open presented by Itaú, major concerts, the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and FIFA World Cup 2026™. Due to its overall sustainability efforts, the multifunctional venue holds Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification and FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation rating. For more information, visit hardrockstadium.com.